The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-29
IN MALE ATTIRE.
The Strange Experiences OF
Lena Steigerwalt.
TIE STORY OF HER TROUBLES
Working TO Earn Money to Bring Her
Parents From Germany-A
Brave GIRLS Work.

BowaANsToWE, Pa, May 8.-One yes
ago Samuel Rupert, of this town, VS.
=. approached by a German, evidently
recent arrival, for work, giving his nam
} as John Steigerwait. Mr.. Rupert own
several large farms and quarry whlc
employs dozen or more men, and JUS
at this particular time was not IN nee
of any additional help. He was, how
ever, so touched by the honest expires
sion and respectable appearance of tn,
applicant that he added his name to th'
list OF employees at the salary OF Sl5 6
month and board; with the proyiso thai
if at the end OF six months ne provided
himself deserving he would add S. q
month to his wages. The stranger
countenance 1T up with smile of graft
tude, and forthwith he was assigned to
work on one of the farms.
The stranger worked alternately at the
quarry and on the farm, giving the best
OF satisfaction. At the expiration of the
six months Mr.. Rupert's promise to in
crease his wages was faithfully kept, and
| the stranger continued TO work on, re-
| jecting all social advances OF his COM
| panIons, who were more or less inclined
| to indulge in carousals after the receipt
of their money. SteigerWalt's actions
and retiring disposition displeased the
other employees so much that great jeal-
ousy existed, and he was subsequently
dubbed ''Rupert's man Friday" Steig-
erwalt patiently and uncomplainingly
bore the insults and threats of his fell
low workmen day after day, all of
which was unknown to Mr.. Rupert,
who spent much of mis- time away from
home on business. On bis return from
one of his trips some of the men were |
reprimanded for negligence, and this |
was looked upon as the result of Steig- |
erwalt's complaints. This widened the |
breath between the prosecuted immi-
grant and the other employees, and the |
latter resolved to make a formal de-
mand for "Tale-bearer" Steigerwalt's
dismissal. Mr.. Rupert heard that there
was trouble brewing among the men,
and on Wednesday last, with view OF
getting at the truth, arranged to have
talk with Steigerwalt, who on the day
IN his employ. The two met in the par
lor OF the Rupert residence that even
ing, and MIR. Rupert asked to have q
statement of the trouble among the men
and the causes which led to it. Steiger-
walt, much agitated said:
Mr.. Rupert, am probably the limo.
cent cause OF the trouble, but there are
extenuatlng circumstances which l
trust will restore confidence and place
myself and the other employees in
favorable light. I have worked here
one year in the disguise of man, but
am woman, a poor German immi-
grant, without friends or a home in this
country.
MIR. RuI ert was dnmbfounded at this,
and then listened attentively to her
story, which she told substantially as
ollows:
My right name is Lena Steigerwalt,
md two weeks prior to applying to you
or work came to this country expect
ng to meet friends, upon whose advice
lett home. 1t was the intention of my
parents to come also, but they were
Unable to raise the necessary money for
he trip and with their consent I came
alone. Before starting, however,
made promise that if l was spared l
would inside of a year after my arrival !
emit the money to bring them over.
Ny friends were supposed to live near s
oowmanstown, but after a weary '
earch OF several weeks, which nearly {
Exhausted my little sum of money, I s
ave up all hope of finding them. 1 j.
hen directed my efforts toward fight
ng my own battle. Domestic employ
nent might be easily obtained, but its
neagre remuneration would scarcely
support myself, to say nothing of the
obligation was under. and which re-
olved to keep, no matter what hard
hips l had to undergo. Here I found
myself without friends or home in 8
TRANCE land, and after long period of l
painful meditation decided to assume 1
male attire and do manual labor until l
ould earn the amount of money re- I
uired to bring nay aged parents and 7
me sister to America. This have now {
lone, and three weeks ago 1 arranged i
o send draft to them for $125. Had Il
his meeting not been arranged by o
ourself 1t was my purpose to call on
gu to morrow, make the confession I
ave just made, and tender nv resig
alton, which | now do, with much
ceiling of gratitude for the hospitable
manner in which was taken into vour
Employment, and the kindness have :,
ecelved during my stay. Ny reasons, d
1erefore, Tor rejecting social relations
nth your workmen are now obvious.
nd you can, if you choose, make this
xplanation to them, which trust will {,
estore that confidence that I know
xlsted when | came here, and which |
OF nope will never again be dis 3
lrbed." r
There was so much intelligence. can
or ana frankness in the confession
lat Rupert was yisibiy affected as be
azed on the hardened HANDS and the
ln.brown face of the girl, who kesnIv al
1t her position and what she endured